Annual Meeting

The 2024 SACSCOC Annual Meeting will be held December 7-10 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. 

The theme for this year’s conference encapsulates the current dynamic landscape of accreditation in higher education. Texas, renowned for its spirit of innovation and resilience, serves as the perfect setting to explore the intricate balance between fostering innovation and maintaining compliance with our Principles of Accreditation. This theme invites us to delve deep into the heart of accreditation practices while navigating the evolving terrain where tradition meets transformation, and where compliance is intricately woven with the fabric of innovation.

This will be the first time Austin has served as the host city for the SACSCOC Annual Meeting.  Come and experience the unique charm and culture of Austin—renowned for its live entertainment, inspiring cuisine, and dynamic arts scene. It’s the ideal backdrop to participate in an enriching journey of exploration, discovery, and collaboration.

Registration is now open!  Click here for registration and conference details.  

Dr. Wheelan will retire next Summer making this her last Annual Meeting as president. Be sure to come and say goodbye as she transitions into a much-deserved retirement.

Registration Fees

Registrant	Early Before Oct 1	General Oct 1 – Oct 31	Late Nov 1 – Nov 14
Member Individuals who are employed at a SACSCOC-accredited or candidate institution, or a state higher education system	$650	$750	$850
Nonmember Individuals who are not employed at a SACSCOC-accredited or candidate institution	$950	$1,050	$1,150
Graduate Student Individuals who are pursuing a graduate degree in higher education or a related field at a SACSCOC-accredited institution and are not full-time employees of any higher education institution. Individuals must email proof of enrollment to annmtg@sacscoc.org to obtain a special discount code.	$250	$300	$350
Retiree Individuals who are retired from a SACSCOC-accredited institution and have active:retired status as SACSCOC peer evaluators through March 29, 2025. Individuals must email annmtg@sacscoc.org to request a special discount code. Evaluator status will be verified in the SACSCOC peer evaluator database.	$250	$300	$350

Hotel Reservations

There are 11 properties that comprise the Annual Meeting block of hotels SACSCOC has contracted with to ensure participants are offered a conference rate.  The rates for the hotel rooms range between $209 – $239 per night (plus tax).  You must register to attend the Annual Meeting in order to book your reservation and obtain the conference rate.  Please note the following:

Connections Housing is the only official housing bureau associated with and authorized to conduct transactions for SACSCOC. While other companies may contact you offering accommodations for your travel, they are not affiliated with SACSCOC. Entering into financial agreements with these companies can have costly consequences. SACSCOC is not connected in any way with other companies claiming to represent or provide hotel services. 

Affiliate Group Meeting Requests

Non-profit organizations and special interest groups interested in hosting an event—business meeting, reception, breakfast, luncheon, etc.—during the SACSCOC Annual Meeting must submit an Affiliate Meeting Request Form. A separate form must be completed for each event.  Completed forms must be submitted no later than October 3, 2024, at 1:00pm Eastern Time.  To preview the questions in the form download the document, Sample Affiliate Request Form.

The information provided in the form will be used to identify complimentary meeting space, when possible. Meeting space is limited, and applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.  The information provided in the form will be included on the “Affiliate Meetings” icon of the conference app, once approved.

Affiliate meetings and events are permitted during the following time slots (Eastern Time):

• Saturday, December 7: 4:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Sunday, December 8: 10:30 am – 1:15 pm, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
• Monday, December 9:  5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Once an Affiliate meeting has been approved, a SACSCOC Meeting Planning staff member will contact you and provide any additional instructions.  Approved events will be assigned meeting rooms near the end of October.  While every attempt will be made to identify complimentary meeting space for the Affiliate, there are situations (noted below) in which an Affiliate will incur fees for their event:

• Audio-visual equipment added to a meeting room for the sole use of the Affiliate will incur a charge.
• If the Affiliate plans to serve refreshments or meals, the Affiliate organizer will receive a direct contact to the venue’s catering manager to place their order. Any food/beverage orders placed with the venue are the sole responsibility of the Affiliate.

If you have any questions, please email annmtg@sacscoc.org.

Graduate Student Travel Grant

Applications are now being accepted.  SACSCOC awards a limited number of travel grants to outstanding students who are interested in learning about accreditation practices in the Southern states. Students who are pursuing a graduate degree in higher education or a related field at an institution accredited by SACSCOC are eligible to apply.

Carefully review all items requested in the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Materials must be received no later than Monday, October 7, 2024. All applications will be acknowledged within one business day of receipt, and individuals will be notified of our decision no later than Friday, October 18, 2024. Typically, only one grant will be awarded per institution. Award recipients will be reimbursed for direct expenses after the conference.

Click here to download the 2024 Travel Grant Application.

If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting, please contact the SACSCOC Meeting Planning Office at annmtg@sacscoc.org.

Help SACSCOC Hit a High Note at the 2024 Annual Meeting!

We are looking for musical groups of up to 10 students who attend a local SACSCOC member institution to provide entertainment for our attendees.  A group honorarium of $500 will be provided.

We need entertainment for three thirty-minute slots preceding each of our General Sessions on the dates:

• Opening (Sunday) General Session – December 8, 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
• Monday General Session – December 9, 8:30 am – 9:00 am
• Tuesday General Session – December 10, 10:00 am – 10:30 am

If you have a student ensemble you would like to recommend, please complete the interest survey by close of business Monday, October 21, 2024.

The selected groups will be provided with parking instructions beforehand and asked to arrive an hour early to set up. Please email us at annmtg@sacscoc.org if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance for your support!

Volunteer at the Annual Meeting!

Stepping up to volunteer at the Annual Meeting is a fun way to network with colleagues from other institutions while having a unique perspective on the participant experience.  It’s also a great step towards learning more about the behind-the-scenes work to successfully host a SACSCOC conference. The required commitment and responsibilities are small, and the rewards are great.

Annual Meeting Volunteer Session Monitors will be responsible for assisting presenters and attendees with tasks such as handing out presentation materials, communicating session issues via text message, and pointing participants toward frequently accessed areas and information. Volunteers should be flexible and willing to serve as greeters, ushers, and in other roles as needed.

We are seeking SACSCOC’s most dedicated institutional representatives to serve as Session Monitors on Sunday, December 8 & Monday, December 9 from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm (including lunch and two breaks). We prefer volunteers able to serve a full day, both days, but will accept those available for one-day/half-day shifts as back-up/on-call volunteers. To volunteer, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form.

If you complete and submit this survey, please do not register for the Annual Meeting. You will be notified of your volunteer status before the deadline of the registration phase during which your interest survey is submitted.

If you have any questions, please contact us at annmtg@sacscoc.org.

Exhibitor and Sponsorship Opportunities

Future Annual Meetings